Eighty years ago, on 30 November 1936, a huge fire lit up the night sky over London. The Crystal Palace in South London had caught fire and as the colossal structure blazed, Londoners had a preview of what many would… Continue reading

The exhibition of a scale model of a destroyed arch from Palmyra in Trafalgar Square, London, from tomorrow (19 April 2016) is the latest episode in a long tradition. That tradition consists of attempts, through the prevailing media of the… Continue reading

A perennial favourite of researchers in the archival collections of the Wellcome Library is the archive of the Pioneer Health Centre, Peckham, including the papers of its founders, George Scott Williamson and Innes Hope Pearse. Now thanks to a couple of recently… Continue reading

The Norwich artist John Sell Cotman (1782–1842) published numerous etchings of buildings in Norfolk, Yorkshire and also Normandy in France. The Library has a copy of one of his Normandy etchings, showing the chapel of Saint-Julien at Petit-Quevilly near Rouen.… Continue reading

In 1911 Henry Wellcome was at the height of his powers. Burroughs-Wellcome & Co. was trading at a healthy profit and had overtaken Allen & Hanbury’s to become the UK’s leading pharmaceutical firm, with its manufacturing base at Dartford. The… Continue reading

The image above captures the popular conception of London’s reaction to the Blitz, which was arguably at its most fearsome during May and June 70 years ago. During the night-time bombings, lives were lost and buildings were destroyed. But come… Continue reading

Open House London has established itself in recent years as one of the capital’s most popular events. A celebration of the diversity of the London’s architecture, the event allows free access to many buildings normally closed to the public. Open… Continue reading

Open House London has established itself in recent years as one of the city’s most popular events. A celebration of the diversity of the capital’s buildings, the event allows free access to many buildings normally closed to the public. Open… Continue reading